Game 137: Tigers at Athletics

PREGAME: It’s kind of a Jekyll and Hyde pitching match-up today. Nate Robertson has been all over the place, shutting down Cleveland and getting knocked around by the Royals. For the A’s it will be Dallas Braden, who’s last big league start ended in the 2nd inning when Magglio Ordonez homered twice off him. Since then he threw 2 complete games in the minors in which he’s allowed only 8 hits and 2 walks while fanning 26 (17 of those in his last start).

This team cannot catch a break. This is a disaster in the making. I can’t believe this.

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 6:17 pm

Can’t there ever be an easy game with this team? Leyland…awake today?

Kevin in Austin

September 2, 2007 at 6:19 pm

Oh man, I jinxed the pen, but Maybin has gotta be to blame there.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 6:19 pm

Oh and why didn’t Granderson come in to play center field?? I don’t want to see Maybin a whole lot any more. Was one semi-relaxing afternoon too much to ask??

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 6:20 pm

That Maybin play reminds me of Sizemore for the Indians two years ago when they melted down in Kansas City. This would be an absolute killer today.

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 6:26 pm

New poster, but been observing the comments for the past weeks.

On to the game, this is unbelieveable I just hope my boy Zoom can get that last needed out and perserve Nates lead. This is a must win for the Tgers. The game reminds me too much of that crzy loss in Det to Cleveland last week. Why is Maybin still in CF hes just too young.

We already had an easy, relaxing game cib. 16-0 against them Yankees. The rest is torture.

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 6:34 pm

Hate to be so negative, but how often has this team had a big inning than failed to tack on the proverbial insurance run or two? Leyland must be up to six packs a day.

charlie

September 2, 2007 at 6:35 pm

i still think we will pull this one out…and…hopefully…get on a …roll. i also think that maybin would be well suited to go back to the minors and get some confidence back…he is not major league ready.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 6:37 pm

Amen. Still not sure why Granderson replaced Thames and not Maybin. I don’t understand anything Leyland does anymore.

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 6:38 pm

charlie,

I absolutely agree, just like Miller who was long over due to be back in the minors, Maybin needs a confidence boost hes also to young to play only what is it 9 game in AA Erie? Not enough minor league experience to be called up if he was there for a year and 9 games maybe he might be ready. Lets just hope they can pull this out. We HAVE to win series for the rest of the year.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 6:40 pm

Kathy, forgot to say, that wasn’t a GAME! I don’t mind a little rally by the other team, a little tension, but to just throw the game back to them, I can’t take it anymore. I hate that.

Yeah, I’m not sure that Maybin is giving us anything at this point. But I don’t know if I buy the “confidence” thing either: Willie Mays was pretty atrocious, if I understand my MLB history, in his first tour of duty in the majors.

With such talent, it really is a case of “the Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away.” He blows that easy pop up, then makes a few great plays to end the inning.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 7:01 pm

This is a hideous pattern. A flurry, and then dead bats for the remaining innings. Our clutch hitting is just GONE. Let’s pull this one out, but this stuff has to be remedied.

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 7:02 pm

Yep, that homer off Clemens seems like eons ago.

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 7:03 pm

Rob,

Maybe you are right about the confidence thing but i also think experience is key. Hes only been playing minor league ball for 2 years and a half or so. Thats not enough experience. My other favorite team the Atlanta Braves brought up their farm system two years ago with McCann and Jeff Francoeur and they are having two great years plus their rookie half season. But they had alot of minor league experience especially in AA Mississippi before they were brought up around 3 years or so in AA. Maybin just needs to have more experience in Pro ball before he can truely become that potentially great player we all expect him to be.

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 7:04 pm

Jones…please.

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 7:05 pm

wow, Suzuki with a 2 run homer to tie it up. This is rediculous!!!

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 7:07 pm

The way this game is going you’d think the A’s were the team in the playoff hunt.

Okay, last night I complained about using Jones in a nonsave situation and the reason was, he needed to pitch. I’m just at a loss right now. It’s like there is a curse on Robertson.

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 7:11 pm

Jones pitches awesome in his last couple appearences and now he blows a save that was a must win. Why he does this when game really matters is unbelievable. Not giving a free pass to Rodney hes just like jones pitches great since coming off the DL and when the game matters he flounders a 7-2 lead to 7-5. I dont know anymore.

Update: nice wild pitch by Joesy. 90 ft away from another series loss.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 7:12 pm

Season over. That’s it.

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 7:12 pm

Typical. Everything starts with a pitcher ahead 0-2 on a batter. This is going to be Jones first blown save since June 1.

Well, Eric when would you define the season as over? The Tigershave
been one of the worst teams since the all-star break. They have just blown a 7-0 lead against a crummy team. This team can’t close and looks scared in the field and at the plate. No clutch players whatsoever. They’re toast.

Matt

September 2, 2007 at 7:18 pm

Wow… Maybin almost cost us the game on that last pop-fly.

What else does Leyland need to see? Maybin is simply not ready.

M*

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 7:19 pm

Can I say that Romon Santiago is unbelieveable since coming off the DL and up to the majors. Hes hitting which is crzy and of course his fielding is great thank god for Romon.

ron

September 2, 2007 at 7:19 pm

So far a phew! game.

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 7:20 pm

God, the best thing about Oakland will be the rearview mirror.

tigerfan

September 2, 2007 at 7:21 pm

If i wasn’t watching this B/S I would never believe it better luck next season the Tigers don’t stand a chance in Hell of getting into the opost season. It’s time for some changes goodbye pudge goodbye Inge goodbye good ridance Jones

I certainly don’t call it over when they are 2 out on the wild card race with a month of play left. Seattle had a 7 or 8 game losing streak. The Yankees just lost a series to Tampa Bay.

It is not over.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 7:25 pm

Hi Stephen how are things in NY.
I have tried to be positive, really, even paying for playoff tickets (D’oh!!) but oh my god. To do this when we could have gained ground.
I would also like to go on record as saying that Omar Infante would have been a better gamble as a pinch hitter than Timo Perez.
Polanco strikes out??? I’m still blaming the MonStars.

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 7:25 pm

Just one problem with that Tigerfan,

Whos going to be behind the plate a FA catcher the list is short and bad (besides Posada but who thinks he will be a FA), Inge well we could trade for a 3B but we would have to eat his contract cause no one would want him. Jonesy i dont know i know he wont be back but he has been better this year then last.

My dream-
CP Zumaya
C Jerrod Saltalamacchia
3B Troy Glaus

wont happen because one to much money two Salty was just traded to texas but Zoom zoom being the closer is quite possible if not next year then the following year hes got the stuff of Street, Rivera, and Eckersley.

tigerfan

September 2, 2007 at 7:29 pm

Eric it is good to be optimistic, I really wish I could feel the same way but the 2nd half numbers don’t support any optimistic final results NOTHING is going to change between now and the end of the season the tigers are just spinning their wheels and starting to slide backwards

cib

September 2, 2007 at 7:32 pm

Same here, Eric, I’m trying but
HE HIT THE BATTER?? with two strikes on him??

oh my god

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 7:33 pm

Fitting way to end it. I just threw up again in my mouth.

Slashpyne

September 2, 2007 at 7:33 pm

I’m dying here….

Ben in Denver

September 2, 2007 at 7:33 pm

I am crushed.

Remember when we beat the Yankees? That was fun.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 7:34 pm

I’m going to take a Xanax.
Still asking if anyone is going to the game Tuesday, we could meet up, misery loves company. sec 338/r C/13-14

Tigerfan, Don’t get me wrong. I’m not all that optimistic. Baseball Prospectus playoff odds have them at 24% chance of the playoffs.

I just don’t think it’s over.

On a different note. I wish we’d have waited to trade hannahan. He hit us up the other night too.

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 7:35 pm

Unbeleiveable is all i got to say, cahnce to go up goes up in the standings just go up in smoke to the A’s of all teams. This is bull!!!! Crap, sub .500 team wins season series and this series to the still STILL SLUMPING tigers. If its nto the bats its the starting pitching and if both of those are working its the bullpen unfraking believeable!!!! Not a happy person today >:(

West Coast Tiger

September 2, 2007 at 7:35 pm

The worst game of the season, a comlete embarrasment, a disaster, call it what you want but these guys are cooked and done. I hate to be negative but it is what it is.

tigerfan

September 2, 2007 at 7:36 pm

Hey Steve I’m just venting I wish I had the awnser but pudge only hits when we don’t need any runs he swings at everything, he is a great catcher with the young pitchers .I wonder if rabello could catch everyday that’s probably not the awnser either though his bat isn’t much better but it might be if he got more at bats

cib

September 2, 2007 at 7:37 pm

Oh, Steve in Kzoo, hi and welcome, glad you decided to post. Isn’t this fun???

I still can’t believe this.

ron

September 2, 2007 at 7:37 pm

Worst loss of the year. No killer instinct and choke artists extroadinare. Can hardly wait for Leyland’s comments.

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 7:39 pm

Honestly, this feels worse than losing the World Series last year. At least then we had next year…which turned into this boondoggle. Was Chad Durbin unavailable? How can you put a must-win game in the hands of a September call up. Making it worse, no game tomorrow, so 48 hours to stew over this joke.

Here Lies the 2007 Detroit Tigers.
Beloved by all who follow the D, they gave us:
A no hitter by Verlander
An MVP Season By Maggs
Career Season from Polanco

After achieving a 22 over .500 record, the best in baseball, they learned that they were terminally ill. First, the illness struck the bullpen, but then spread to other areas. Doctors tried to diagnose the problem, and many cures were tried, including some experimental remedies from Erie, PA, Lakeland, FL, and Toledo, OH. Doctors even amputated a few parts (and donated them to Chicago and St. Louis). Some friends suggested to Dr. Dombrowski that an infusion of Gagne or Wilson might cure our beloved 2007 Tigers, but Dombrowski felt it wasn’t necassary.

The long struggle, however, proved to be too much to handle. The 2007 Detroit Tigers succumbed to Bullpinitis on September 2nd, 2007 in Oakland, CA. They were pronounced dead at 7:34 PM Eastern Time.

They are survived by the 2007 Detroit Lions, 2007 Redwings, and 2007-08 Pistons. They are joined in death by the 2007 Michigan Wolverines.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 7:42 pm

Durbin is starting on Thursday so they couldn’t send him in. How did a pitching-rich team come to this? I think the second injury to Rogers, the elbow pain, was the tipping point.

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 7:43 pm

Two hits over the final 2+ innings against the vaunted Oakland pen.

tigerfan

September 2, 2007 at 7:44 pm

giving up 8 runs in the last 4 innings to a sub .500 team is totally unexceptable. When is it time for Leyland to not be Mr. nice guy and start lighting a fire under this teams ass.

Kathy

September 2, 2007 at 7:44 pm

My son just called and said it all started with the Kansas City series after the All Star break. They self-distruct.

Remember ’06? It might another 20 years before we experience that feeling again.

Scott

September 2, 2007 at 7:45 pm

Season over.

Turn out the lights, the party is over. You don’t make the playoffs after blowing a game like this. Oakland is a BS 4A team right now and we let them come back from 7-0?

Pathetic.

BaseballinDC

September 2, 2007 at 7:45 pm

Can we please let Jones go now? Really…

cib

September 2, 2007 at 7:46 pm

True, it was not just the pitching, as I said earlier we hit for a while and then we just freeze up. I can’t get over this one.

Scott

September 2, 2007 at 7:47 pm

I don’t agree with you there, Kathy. I’m as upset as anybody about this loss, but the Tigers will continue to be a decent to good team. There are some key changes that need to be made for sure, but I do have confidence in DD.

ron

September 2, 2007 at 7:47 pm

Get rid of everyone but Verlander,Granderson,Polanco,Guillen and Mags. That’s 80% of the team. I’m willing to wait Another 24 years for a World Series if I live to be 86. These guys are buffoons.

stephen

September 2, 2007 at 7:48 pm

What a bunch of choke artists. This team has consistently folded in the clutch. They got no heart. Who would you consider clutch on this team? Who has stepped up and made a season saving play? Leyland’s either lost these guys or hasn’t lit their fire enough. At this point in his career, i can see him walking away from this team.

Scott

September 2, 2007 at 7:48 pm

Agreed, DC. It’s time to insert Zoom-Zoom as closer.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 7:48 pm

The Jones failure was set into motion LAST NIGHT when he pitched in a non-save situation. I made concerned comments in last night’s thread.

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 7:49 pm

Take away a league best 14-4 vs. the National League and this team would now be a game under .500.

ron

September 2, 2007 at 7:50 pm

Great post Rob.

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 7:52 pm

thanks cib and tigersfan for the welcome. And it is fun finally to vent my frustrations at people who love the tigers and know they should be doing better.

However, let’s not get insane and think the team is suddenly going to stink for 20 years. They have way to much talent for that. But it’s young talent, especially the pitching staff.

It’s just not our year… THIS year.

Scott

September 2, 2007 at 7:56 pm

This slide is puzzling. I fail to understand how they could be so good before the All-Star break and so bad after … two straight years. It’s like our guys forget how to play.
- Why can’t Bonderman put together a full-season?
- How could the offense be so torrid for so long and then just go into the crapper for an extended period?
Things we’ll need for next year:

1. A veteran starting pitcher … a la Kenny Rogers 2006 (if you can find one).
2. A left-handed hitting left fielder than actually doesn’t whiff 100 times.
3. A new 3B.
4. Another major piece for the bullpen. Zoom-Zoom goes to closer and we let Jones walk.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 7:56 pm

Too bad we’re not all closer together, we could meet somewhere and drown our sorrows. At least I don’t have to go to work tomorrow, as the designated Tigers fanatic I always have people asking me why they lost.

Mike in CT

September 2, 2007 at 7:57 pm

From the first write-through of the Associated Press game story, from before the game:

“I love this lineup, and we’ll probably get shut out on three hits,” the Tigers manager joked before the game. “I’ll be disappointed if this lineup doesn’t do something.”

Thanks Ron. I’m able to take this, crushing as it is, a little lighter since it isn’t very hard to remember when I could declare a Tiger season dead by early May.

The worst part of all this, though, is I now have to focus on the Lions, who I have zero confidence in.

ron

September 2, 2007 at 7:59 pm

Steve,glad you could make it, but the patient passed away a half hour ago.

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 8:01 pm

It was just an extra bad day and weeks with the tigers only winning one series since the sweep in Minnasota and the braves just doing nothing except let their chances go with Texeira hitting awesome is just not great. Tigers and Braves need to wake up or their seasons are done. Just our luck that we will be done later then the braves. They have about a week, we have about two and a half maybe three weeks left til we are gone, if we dont figure this out. If CWS sweep us its definitely gone. Before that i still cling to hope( but just barely)

ron

September 2, 2007 at 8:02 pm

Why do I think Leyland is behind all this and they would be playing better for another manager?

cib

September 2, 2007 at 8:06 pm

Leyland’s attitude is puzzling to me. I don’t think he has to go all Ozzie on the team (cursing them out in public) but SOMETHING has to occur.

Scott

September 2, 2007 at 8:08 pm

Ron:
Leyland has made some mistakes. But he’s not the reason they haven’t gotten it done. The bullpen and starting rotation have taken turns being inconsistent and flat out terrible. Hitting has been spotty for more than a month. The Tigers were more than 20 games over .500 before the All-Star break … he didn’t suddenly forget how to manage.

ron

September 2, 2007 at 8:10 pm

The Titanic sank on the same day Briggs Stadium opened in 1912.

Jim

September 2, 2007 at 8:10 pm

Hurts too much to laugh but too embarrasing to cry.

Rodney is the one who set this game up to explode.

Season ain’t over yet but it’s getting tougher and tougher.

hey, atleast we didn’t lose any ground.

Steve in Kzoo

September 2, 2007 at 8:12 pm

I have to agree cib. Leyland is waaaaay to lax to just let nothing happen. Its like he thinks we have a 5 or 6 game lead on the 2nd place team. Or its like if we make it cool, if not, thats cool as well. Leyland is great for the game but the guys are lacking the playoff killer instinct. Tigers are killing their fans and its almost as if they dont care. There is no NEED to win a game from all of the guys on the team. All except Maggs, Polanco, Verlander, and Sheffield, everyone else isn’t really wanting to win. Something anything has to happen or else things will be bad not just this year but next year and the next.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 8:13 pm

Scott, you are right, in terms of skills, Leyland can’t hit or pitch for our players. It’s just something about the mix, something emotional. Maybe it’s the injuries as much as everyone says, you can’t blame injuries, at some point when key people just are not available, how can you not attribute at least part of the problems to that? I don’t know, just rambling now. What a day.

Kathy

September 2, 2007 at 8:16 pm

I can’t meet you for a drink, cib, but just popped a xanax. Oh, Lord, this one hurt. How could they?

And please get Maybin out of there.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 8:17 pm

LOL Ron on the Titanic cite and whoever posted as the Skipper, thanks for a much needed laugh.

cib

September 2, 2007 at 8:20 pm

Kathy one of these days we will have to meet up and compare notes!

charlie

September 2, 2007 at 8:26 pm

scott

you just posted the best comment i have seen here this year. why the collapse after the all star break two years in a row. we have talked about leyland, the injuries and this player and that player and their slumps ad nauseum.

really the question is why are we so good…in different ways one year pitching the other hitting…before the halfway mark and so bad after. it’s not just an age thing because it has affected players of all ages. is it conditioning? does the clubhouse atmosphere change? opinions???

billfer

September 2, 2007 at 8:27 pm

Now that I’m back from Orlando I’ll do a full series wrap up, but for now, let me ask what would be examples of “having heart?” I keep reading how the team doesn’t have heart, which to me just sounds like a tidy little explanation but doesn’t really convey any meaning?

Is it clutch hitting? Like those 2 out hits early in the game to drive in runs? Or Sean Casey’s game tying single Friday night? Is it a starting pitching performance, like retiring the first 13 in order? Is it finding a way to escape a bases loaded no out situation with the winning run on 3rd? Cuz they did all of those things today.

Leyland can go yell at everybody but it won’t make Fernando Rodney find the strike zone. It won’t make Cameron Maybin be able to magically see the ball in the sun.

Today was a crappy loss to be sure and I understand the frustration, I’m there too, but blaming it on Leyland’s demeanor or a lack of heart I just don’t get.

Kathy

September 2, 2007 at 8:27 pm

And the real killer is Jack Hannahan knocking in the clutch winning run. The player we basically handed to them because he’s behind Inge. I’m feeling sicker by the minute.

Jim

September 2, 2007 at 8:32 pm

wow, hannahan had a 422 OB% this year with Toledo

Scott

September 2, 2007 at 8:43 pm

Charlie:

Thanks for the compliment. I’m not sure what to blame the collapse on. Injuries certainly have taken a toll. A healthy Sheffield, a healthy Rogers and Zoom-Zoom for a full season and we may not be having this conversation.

One thing is certain: this team can’t win it all as it is currently composed. Not to say that we need a major overhaul, but a couple of key changes. It will be an interesting off-season. I think the Tigers will be fighting Cleveland for the next several years for the Division. I think Minnesota will continue to sink and I think the Royals are actually on the rise. I’m not sure what to make of the White Sox.

stephen

September 2, 2007 at 9:01 pm

Well, if the squandering of 7 run leads isn’t an example of a lack of heart i don’t what is. incompetence? a lack of brains? (brandon inge, i’m looking right at you). There are teams who lose games like this because of lack of talent, and there are teams who lose games like this because they’re all looking at each other waiting for the sky to fall on them. Seriously, I’ve been following professional sports for 30 years, and I’m not sure if I’ve seen a team from management on down so underachieve.

billfer

September 2, 2007 at 9:09 pm

So what created the 7 run lead in the first place? Was there heart in the first 5 innings, and then they said, screw it we don’t care about the postseason anyways? Fernando Rodney had lots of heart in August, but now that it is September his heart has left him?

It was crappy relief pitching from 2 of the guys who had been most reliable for the last month. That’s what blew the 7 run lead.

K-Man

September 2, 2007 at 9:23 pm

The bullpen had been so good lately, I suppose you could say it was bound to happen. But this one hurts. Losing a game in which you had a 7 run lead, on a day that we could have picked up a game on everybody is hard to swallow. But you know what? The way this team has been going this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if they stomped Chicago on Tuesday night.

Adam

September 2, 2007 at 9:25 pm

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say what I think cost us the game.

And even with Rodney and Jones’ shenanigans, we would have won.

1. Not letting Robertson pitch in the 7th. The man had only thrown ninety pitches and had no-hit the Athletics through four and a third. For that I blame Leyland, or Robertson for not letting everyone know he was still good to go.

2. Cameron Maybin playing (center, or at all). Leyland replaces three-hit, two-double, three-RBI Thames with Granderson, but leaves Maybin in center and puts Granderson in at left. I don’t think I have to ask any of you if Granderson catches that fly ball pop up. It’s a moot point, but yes, he catches it. Maybin can’t seem to put bat on ball, can’t seem to get his bearings at all up here (and why should he? The kid is younger than I AM!) and yet he’s the one who stays when Granderson gets put in. Are you for real? How about the line drive catch he almost doesn’t make? Or the stepping on toes of Raburn, when it was clear Raburn thought he was going to catch the ball? The game was going to end anyway, but it almost ended right there as well.

As for Rodney, I was yelling “Pull him” after he gave up the first two runs. Does Leyland pull him? No. But I’m not getting into that.

10 unanswered hits by the Tigers through 4.5 innings, only one hit the rest of the way, during which the A’s put together 11.

And, for everyone who’s saying “the season is over.” Please, either stop watching or commenting. Because if you honestly believed that, you wouldn’t be here. Win or lose EVERY game from here on out, the season has been and will always be 162 games long, and not a game less. And I will be there to watch each one and cheer my Tigers on. Thank you.

ron

September 2, 2007 at 10:46 pm

Having heart is failing at something, making up your mind to come back from that failure and to become even better because of the failure.

Jim

September 2, 2007 at 10:49 pm

It’s not that they didn’t have heart. It’s that the relievers left the ball up and/or couldn’t find the plate.

Jim

September 2, 2007 at 10:51 pm

PS: If this game is about ‘heart’ should we go pursue David Eckstein this offseason? They say he always plays with alot of ‘heart’

Would David Eckstein make some of you happy? Because it wouldn’t make me happy. LOL

you can tell from the way the guys play what they are putting into the game

Inge is a defensive player and one of the best 3d bag guys around. whenever anyone else tries ply 3d a couple balls will be lost that we see Inge would have surely got to.

Casey. what a character !!

Polly, Maggs and Guillen — these guys put all they got into every game. they ain’t just going through the motions they are playing their best every time you see them

so it ain’t that our team don’t have ‘heart’. Our Tigers excell in that

but the team is all made up from these various characters and they ain’t no two alike. and so it’s Jim’s job to make it all fit

and everyone I watch games with all respects Jim a lot for having put the Tigers back on the board

yeah, yesterday’s loss was a heart-breaker. those things happen

thankfully, every game is an opportunity and that is a good thing as we always need to work to improve

(that’s what them other guys all do)

ron

September 3, 2007 at 9:05 am

The game is about execution. When the team executes for two months and then inexplicately executes poorly for two months, what do you call that? Their isn’t another professional sport in this country where people and even players would be questioning the heart issue. Hey, we still love our Tigers. Who knows, they may still pull this off. Maybe if Leyland brings this up, it will be the kick in the pants they need.

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